By RFIPosted on 09-01-2020Modified on 09-01-2020 at 04:28
On the occasion of a meeting in Istanbul, the Russian and Turkish presidents called on Wednesday for a cease-fire in Tripoli while at the same time the EU promised to Fayez el-Sarraj the head of the Libyan government recognized by the international community, to intensify these efforts to find a peaceful solution.
A strange diplomatic ballet took place on Wednesday in Istanbul, Brussels and Rome. The most startling statement came from Istanbul where Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Valdimir Poutine both called for a ceasefire . A cessation of hostilities which should begin on January 12 at midnight.
This call is all the more unexpected as the two countries oppose in Libya. Turkey defends the Government of national unity while Russia supports Marshal Haftar. In their joint declaration, the Turkish and Russian presidents also expressed their support for the holding of an international conference in January in Berlin, a conference which should make it possible to relaunch the political process under the aegis of the United Nations.
Brussels and Rome
A meeting to which the European Union also gave its full support on Wednesday. Josep Borrel, the head of EU diplomacy and Charles Michel, the President of the European Council, received Fayez el-Sarraj in Brussels. The two men promised the head of the Libyan government that the EU would step up efforts to find a peaceful end to the conflict. According to the German Foreign Minister, the head of the GNA has reaffirmed his support for a political solution and the Berlin process.
At the same time, Marshal Haftar met Giuseppe Conte in Rome . The head of the Italian government warned of " the risks to the stability of the entire region " and " called for the abandonment of the military option ". Giuseppe Conte then had to speak with Fayez el-Sarraj but the latter finally canceled his visit. The head of the Libyan government would have been " very irritated ", according to several titles of the Italian press, to see his adversary received with great fanfare by his Italian ally.
Meeting in Cairo
In addition, the foreign ministers of Egypt, France, Italy, Greece and Cyprus held a coordination meeting in Cairo on tensions in the eastern Mediterranean and on the situation in Libya after the approval by the Turkish Parliament to send soldiers there.
The foreign ministers sent a warning message to Turkey, asking Ankara to respect international law regarding the sharing of economic waters in the Mediterranean. A subject that Egypt, Greece and especially Cyprus consider to be a priority with regard to Turkish claims on waters rich in gas fields, and which these countries consider as belonging to them.
They also called on Turkey to comply with Security Council resolutions on Libya prohibiting any foreign military intervention or the shipment of weapons. A subject that concerns Italy, France and especially Egypt. Islamist terrorists from Libya carried out several attacks in western Egypt. A phenomenon in clear regression since the rise of Marshal Haftar.
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